By Alfred Koroma
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the European Union (EU), has launched the implementation of Pillar 3 of the Feed Salone Plan, a key priority in the government’s Big Five Agenda aimed at reducing food imports, creating jobs, and strengthening food security in Sierra Leone.
Pillar 3 focuses on enhancing food processing, marketing, and competitiveness to boost local production and decrease reliance on imports. The initiative, backed by FAO and the EU’s Sustainable Agrifood Systems Intelligence Initiative (SASI), aims to create a more inclusive and sustainable food system.
FAO’s Saeed Abubakar Bancie expressed optimism about the plan’s impact, stating:“This strategy is both ambitious and realistic. We believe it will drive sustainable growth and greater inclusivity in food production.”
He praised the plan, emphasizing that it addresses challenges related to food affordability in Sierra Leone and will play a key role in enhancing food security, reducing reliance on imports, creating employment, and empowering women.
“The Feed Salone strategy represents a bold and ambitious vision for Sierra Leone’s agriculture sector, and Pillar 3 is a cornerstone of this vision,” Bancie added.
The European Union has pledged financial and technical support to help Sierra Leone achieve the Feed Salone goals. Federico Capurro, EU Food Systems Programme Manager, emphasized the significance of the initiative, calling it:
“A crucial step towards sustainable agrifood systems.”
The Ministry of Agriculture will lead coordination and monitoring efforts to ensure the successful execution of the plan, with strong backing from the EU, FAO, and other partners.
In his keynote address, Henry Musa Kpaka, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, highlighted the government’s commitment to ensuring the success of the Feed Salone Plan and reaffirmed its dedication to a sustainable and inclusive transformation of the agricultural sector.
“We are calling on ministries, development partners, private sector players, NGOs, and civil society to contribute to this national effort,” Kpaka stated.
